There were 23 vehicles that showed some improvement in the U.S. But eventually only one was worthy of being crowned the 2010 Car of the Year by Motor Trend. And the lucky car that came out of it all was the new and improved Ford Fusion. Just in case you didn’t know yet, the Ford Fusion practically has one model to suit the motorist’s taste. This includes being an entry level car, hybrid vehicle or a luxury sports car. In short, the flexibility of the Ford Fusion is what makes it perhaps an ideal vehicle to consider buying. So if you want to be safe, take it from the experts. The Ford Fusion is the car to have regardless of what you are looking for in one.

(Source) Market Wire

Tags: car of the year, flexibility, Ford, ford fusion, hybrid vehicle, luxury sports car, motor trend, source market

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With the release of the new four and six cylinder versions, the new Ford Fusion Hybrid is now the new top domestic sedan based on Consumer Reports. The Ford Fusion Hybrid was originally tied with popular brands like the Toyota Camry Hybrid but overtook everyone else with the new enhancements made. All the new ford fusion versions were quieter and more refined than previous versions.

The price range of the Ford Fusion Hybrid is pegged to be at $20,365 for the four-cylinder Optima to $32,360 for the Fusion Hybrid. This includes a $5,000 package with added navigation, leather seats, a moonroof and other options.

(Source) Press

Tags: consumer reports, enhancements, ford fusion, leather seats, moonroof, new ford, previous versions, Toyota, toyota camry, toyota camry hybrid

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Ford will be sponsoring the 2009 Essence Music Festival, coming in as a first year sponsor for this event headed by Beyonce in New Orleans. Ford has been known to choose the events it will sponsor but as far as New Orleans is concerned, it is simply giving back to the community and to support their various women empowerment and multicultural initiatives during the nation’s largest annual gathering of African-American music and culture.

As a proud partner of the influential Festival, Ford has created unique programs for New Orleans, ranging from the sponsorship of the Women’s Day Seminar to vehicle ride and drive opportunities with various products in the Ford portfolio, including the All-New 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the vehicle that allows you to drive 700 miles on a single tank of gas.

“Ford is pleased to partner with Essence on such an important initiative,” said Crystal Worthem, Multicultural Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company. “The Essence Music Festival truly is an event that empowers women while simultaneously allowing them the chance to have fun for a weekend. We are excited to be a part of this year’s event.”

(Source) Press

Tags: african american music, beyonce, essence music festival, Ford, ford fusion, ford motor, ford motor company, hybrid, initiative, marketing manager, multicultural initiatives, new orleans, proud partner, sponsorship, Tank

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Getting the opportunity to test drive one of the highly anticipated cars is something that is rare and combining this with the hottest show to date, you know that Ford Motors is going to be a hot topic in the coming days.

As “American Idol” excitement reaches a fever pitch, Ford fans across the country will get the opportunity to attend a special private showing of the first night of the two-night “American Idol” finale at cinemas nationwide on May 19. Ford is hosting the cinema events through National CineMedia in celebration of the new 2010 Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid, the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan in America and the official vehicle of the hit television show.

Invitations to the red carpet cinema viewing parties can be obtained simply by test driving a Ford Fusion or Fusion Hybrid at select events nationwide during the month of May.

VIP passes for the Tuesday, May 19 private cinema viewing parties in each city will be distributed at the test drive locations on a first come, first served basis until capacity is reached. Once the VIP passes are distributed, a $10 gift card to a local major retailer will be presented to Fusion test drivers. All test drivers will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the live “American Idol” finale in Los Angeles and a limited edition 2010 “American Idol” Ford Fusion. Grand prize winners will be notified on May 17, 2009.

(Source) Press

Tags: american idol, american idol finale, cinema events, fever pitch, first come first served basis, first night, ford fans, ford fusion, ford motors, gift card, grand prize winners, hot topic, hottest show, invitations, limited edition, national cinemedia, private cinema, red carpet, television show, test drivers

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Ford is thankful that it has one vehicle doing well in the market. The vehicle is their Ford Fusion and thanks to the growing popularity of this vehicle, they have moved up in the retail market share for April.

In April, the Ford Fusion paced the share performance. Fusion sales totaled 18,321, a record for any month. April was the first full month of sales for the redesigned 2010 model and the new Fusion Hybrid version, and April is believed to be the first month that Fusion was among the top three-selling mid-size sedans. Recent independent studies rate Fusion and the Mercury Milan – the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedans in America – as having the best predicted reliability among all mid-size sedans.

The new Fusion Hybrid is one of four hybrid models offered by Ford. Hybrid models also are offered in the Mercury Milan mid-size sedan and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small utility vehicles. All Ford hybrid models are the most fuel-efficient vehicles in their class, and the Ford Escape and Ford Fusion recently were named to Kelley Blue Book’s list of Top 10 Green Cars. In April, combined sales of all hybrid models totaled 2,299, up 21 percent versus a year ago.

Other new Ford products contributed to the retail share performance, including the new F-150 pickup, America’s best-selling vehicle, and Ford Flex, the distinctively styled crossover utility that had its best sales month ever (3,190).

(Source) Press

Tags: Crossover, ford escape, ford fusion, ford products, fuel efficient vehicles, green cars, hybrid models, hybrid version, kelley blue book, Mercury, mercury mariner, mercury milan, mid size sedans, new ford, utility vehicles

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If you happen to notice the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion carrying a new look, don’t be surprised. NASCAR fans will see a different look for the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion this weekend when David Ragan hits the track at Richmond International Raceway for the Russ Friedman 400 presented by Crown Royal.

Taking a break from the traditional brown UPS paint scheme, Ragan’s car will feature a special UPS Freight design to promote the Richmond, Va.-based division of UPS. The design incorporates the gray of UPS Freight with new brown and gold trim using a unique paint formula that includes crushed glass to make the vehicle sparkle.

In addition to the special UPS Freight paint scheme, the UPS Freight Charlotte Service Center will be featured on the wing of Ragan’s No. 6 Ford as part of UPS’s “Maximum Center” program. UPS launched the program this year to recognize UPS operating facilities for accomplishments in service, safety and performance.

To view the new UPS Freight paint scheme for the No. 6 car, log on to racing.ups.com.

(Source) Press

Tags: Ford, ford fusion, friedman, nascar, paint formula, richmond, richmond international raceway, ups freight

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Ford gets the nod of Kelly Blue Book as two of its vehicles have been included in the Top 10 Green Cars list. Today, editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com named the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid to its 2009 list of “Top 10 Green Cars.”

“This recognition says strong things about Ford as a hybrid manufacturer,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. “What we really like about both the Fusion and Escape Hybrids is that they do everything great hybrids should do – in terms of providing excellent fuel economy – but at the same time, they drive like conventional vehicles.”

Nerad says fuel economy was just one of the factors editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com took into consideration when selecting this year’s list of “Top 10 Green Cars.”

“We go beyond fuel economy and powertrain, and we look at things that people generally look at when buying any car, such as comfort, convenience, safety and value for the money,” he said.

Ford Hybrid Marketing Manager David Finnegan says winning two of the 10 spots on kbb.com’s “Top 10 Green Cars” list for 2009 demonstrates Ford’s versatility as a hybrid manufacturer.

“We are continuing to expand our portfolio to offer consumers a wider range of alternatives,” said Finnegan. “Not only do we have the most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet with the Ford Escape Hybrid but we also are committed to being a leader in the car segment. The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid provides 41 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway, making it North America’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedan.”

(Source) Press

Tags: car segment, ford escape, ford escape hybrid, ford fusion, ford vehicles, fuel economy, fuel efficient suv, green cars, hybrid marketing, hybrids, kelley blue book, kelly blue book

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Ford will certainly be in the limelight at the 2009 SAE World Congress, as focus will be centered on the EcoBoost engine technology, the hybrid system that led the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid to best-in- class 41 highway mpg and Ford’s aggressive electrification plan. This year’s conference theme: “Racing to Green Mobility.”

Ford engineers, researchers and academia will present more than 70 papers during the conference. Ford also is offering up the expertise of Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, chief technical officer and vice president of Ford Research and Advanced Engineering; and Sherif Marakby, chief engineer, Ford Global Hybrid Engineering; for interactive discussions on powertrain technology solutions.

Ford’s Marakby will speak to trends in consumer hybrid purchase considerations during the “Making Green Cool While Staying in the Black” panel discussion on April 21. Ford’s innovative SmartGauge with EcoGuide digital instrument cluster will be illustrated as a perfect example of cool-factor hybrid technology.

“What we are discovering is that the notion of a hybrid and its outstanding fuel economy is what may draw the consumer to the showroom, but it’s the cool factor – the HMI displays, the next-generation navigation system, Ford SYNC functionality – that is a significant dynamic in the customer purchase decision,” said Marakby.

(Source) Press

Tags: advanced engineering, chief technical officer, electrification, engine technology, ford engineers, ford fusion, fuel economy, hybrid system, hybrid technology, powertrain technology, sae world congress

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U.S. President Barack Obama announced today that he will be ordering 2,500 hybrid vehicles for the U.S. General Service Administration made up of hybrid vehicles from GM, Ford and Chrysler by June 1. The purchase goal is fuel economy that’s 10 percent higher than the vehicle being replaced.

While auto sales have fallen 36 percent in the first quarter of 2009 compared to last year, the government’s purchase is still only symbolic, representing less than two-tenths of one percent of total US annual sales. But lawmakers from auto-industry states like Michigan and Ohio reacted with fervent support.

The first step will be an order for 2,500 hybrid sedans by April 15. Qualifying cars include the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, and the 2009 Saturn Aura Hybrid. The Ford Fusion Hybrid received excellent reviews and generated intense public interest, but the incremental mileage improvements of the Malibu and Aura mild hybrids have neither sparked much enthusiasm nor sold particularly well.

The total cost of $285 million would come from the $787 billion economic stimulus bill passed by Congress last month. A statement from the White House said the entire purchase will “reduce gasoline consumption by 1.3 million gallons per year and prevent 26 million pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.”

(Source) Hybridcars

Tags: auto industry, auto sales, carbon dioxide, economic stimulus bill, ford fusion, fuel economy, gasoline consumption, general service administration, gm ford, hybrid cars, hybrid sedans, hybrid vehicles, hybrids, saturn aura hybrid

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David Ragan is a rising star over at NASCAR and it looks like he will be doing some racing on another level with UPS. The NASCAR rising star won’t be racing the “big brown truck” this year, but he will be learning what it takes to be a UPS driver in a humorous new television advertising campaign UPS launches this weekend as part of its revamped racing program.

The four-spot series, which was produced by The Martin Agency, will feature Ragan competing with UPS drivers in various extreme physical challenges to determine who will earn the title of “Maximum Driver.” The first spot will be broadcast on FOX on Sunday, April 5, during the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Ragan made his UPS Racing debut at the Daytona 500 in February, at which time a new television ad introducing him to the UPS team began running that featured Ragan driving his Number 6 Ford Fusion through the UPS corporate headquarters. The “Maximum Driver” series will go beyond the introduction, with Ragan facing several unique and potentially harrowing challenges as he goes toe-to-toe with some of UPS’s elite delivery professionals.

The “Maximum Driver” campaign follows UPS’s immensely popular “Race the Truck” commercials featuring NASCAR legend Dale Jarrett, who represented UPS Racing for nearly eight years.

UPS: Welcome to the team @ Yahoo! Video

(Source) BusinessWire

Tags: advertising campaign, commercials, dale jarrett, david ragan, daytona 500, ford fusion, nascar, rising star, samsung 500, television advertising, texas motor speedway, ups driver, video source

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We all know that the 2010 Ford Fusion is perhaps one of the best fuel efficient cars in the market today and after earning the Top Safety Pick from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, consumers are bound to swoon all over this efficient midsized car all the more.

Ford is the only automotive brand to offer two hybrids that have segment-leading fuel efficiency, “Top Safety Pick” awards and exclusive safety technologies. The Fusion Hybrid offers 41 mpg city while the Escape Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient SUV on the market and also garnered a “Top Safety Pick.”

The new Fusion Hybrid’s class-leading fuel economy bests the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city. It also features Ford’s innovative SmartGauge with EcoGuide, which coaches hybrid drivers to maximize fuel efficiency.

In addition, the new Fusion and Milan offer three fuel-sipping gas engine options, including the Duratec 2.5-liter I-4 and enhanced 3.0-liter V-6 and 3.5-liter V-6 Duratec engines. Fusions equipped with the 2.5-liter I-4 engine are expected to deliver at least 3 mpg better on the highway than the Honda Accord and 2 mpg better than the Toyota Camry. The 3.5-liter V-6 powers the all-new Fusion Sport model.

(Source) Press

Tags: best fuel efficient cars, duratec engines, engine options, escape hybrid, ford fusion, fuel economy, fuel efficiency, fuel efficient suv, honda accord, hybrids, insurance institute for highway safety, liter, mpg city, safety technologies, toyota camry, toyota camry hybrid

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In an effort to strengthen the brand recall for its 2010 Ford Fusion and other cars, Ford has partnered with Gas Station TV to provide powerful Echo Ads to help reaffirm the advertiser’s initial message or can complement an alternate marketing message.

Echo Ads move the viewer to action, with directional tags or specific action requests, such as a visit to the advertiser’s Web site, drive to retail location, or to use a mobile phone to receive more product information.

Gas Station TV’s Echo Ad offering is a strategically placed 5- or 10-second spot that runs in addition to the advertiser’s initial 15- or 30-second spot during the Gas Station TV network programming experience. The second ad allows advertisers to increase message frequency, further drive action and raise metrics for overall campaigns.

Ford is the first advertiser to run an Echo Ad campaign on the Gas Station TV network beginning March 16. The Echo Ad service offering was initially created to complement the 2010 Ford Fusion + Hybrid launch campaign, inform consumers about the product, introduce them to the product’s message and bring consumers to action by driving them to visit the nearest Ford dealership and http://www.fordvehicles.com.

(Source) Press

Tags: ad campaign, advertiser, campaigns, consumers, Ford, ford dealership, ford fusion, gas station, mobile phone, tv network

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The times may be tough but finding out you have produced the 100,000th vehicle under your wing is already an achievement in itself. Apparently that is what Ford is celebrating today as it has reportedly rolled off its 100,000th hybrid SUV and reinforced its commitment to ramping up production of hybrid vehicles this year.

Ford launched the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids five years ago and the vehicles remain the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the market. At the same time as workers at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant celebrated the hybrid milestone, Ford dealers are preparing to begin selling the all-new 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, which will be America’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedans.

Today, the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV and Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV deliver 34 mpg city driving, 31 mpg highway. The newest entries to Ford’s hybrid lineup, the Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid deliver 41 mpg city driving, 36 mpg highway, the most fuel-efficient midsize sedans on the market today.

The Kansas City Assembly Plant, which employs 4,100 people, has been the hub for Ford’s hybrid SUV production since 2004 when the first Ford Escape Hybrid rolled off the line. Lean, flexible manufacturing processes and specially-trained employees at the plant allow the hybrids to be built on the same production line as conventional Escape and Mariner SUVs.

(Source) Press

Tags: escape hybrid suv, first ford, ford dealers, ford escape, ford escape hybrid, ford fusion, fuel efficient suvs, hybrid car, hybrid vehicles, hybrids, mercury mariner, mercury mariner hybrid, mercury milan, midsize sedans

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For the potential car buyers on a tight budget, you can turn to the 2010 Ford Fusion and the Mercury Milan for potential vehicles catering to your budget. Aside from that they are fuel-efficient, further sweetening the deal for wise car buying today.

The gas engine-powered and hybrid-electric models leapfrog the competition in every area that counts:

• fuel economy
• power
• technology
• overall value

“We’ve priced Fusion to beat the competition as it does in every area that matters most to customers,” said Chantel Lenard, Ford group marketing manager, Global Small and Medium Cars. “This vehicle does more than compete; it aggressively positions Ford to take back its share of the mid-size car segment and sets the tone for the upcoming Taurus and Fiesta launches.”

The front-wheel-drive Fusion S, with a new fuel-efficient 2.5-liter I-4 engine, has a base price (including $725 destination and delivery) of $19,995; the SE trim level is $20,545; the SEL is $23,975. An optional 3.0-liter V-6 engine also is available on SE and SEL models.

Performance-minded buyers can opt for the Fusion Sport equipped with a new 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 263 horsepower and 249 ft.-lb. of torque. Fusion Sport FWD starts at $25,825; AWD at $27,675.

The Mercury Milan ranges from $21,180 (including destination and delivery) for the FWD model with the I-4 engine and six-speed automatic transmission, to $27,800 for the well-equipped Milan Premier AWD model with a fuel-efficient 3.0-liter V-6 engine.

(Source) Press

Tags: automatic transmission, car segment, ford fusion, ford group, front wheel drive, horsepower, mercury milan, power technology

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Ford is taking note of their competitors and it looks like its own hybrid version, the 2010 Ford Fusion is going to give them a run for their money. From the looks and reviews gathered from this latest hyped auto from Ford, you would think it was a fresh concept coming out of the books of hybrid development of cars.

The 2010 Ford Fusion seems to cover everything from the outer to the internal features and one thing you just got to love about it is the new 3-D gauge cluster with turquoise accent lighting.

Expect the 2010 Ford Fusion model to be in the ranks of the leading hybrid cars vying for a fair share of the hybrid market. If the initial looks are impressive, wait until actual car owners get a chance to drive it out in the streets.

For 2010, the Fusion offers a three-engine lineup, which includes one four-cylinder and two V-6s. The base 2.5-liter I-4 engine, available at the S, SE and SEL trim levels, delivers 175 horsepower, a 15 horsepower leap over the 2009 model.

Via Search Chicago

Tags: accent lighting, car owners, Ford, ford fusion, fusion model, horsepower, hybrid cars, hybrid development, hybrid race, hybrid version, liter

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